The Colleges Of Builders.*

THE COLLEGES OF BUILDERS . *

BY BRO . JAS . B . GRANT , 32 ° . THE mysteries of the Egyptians , passing through Moses to the Jewish people , afterward disseminated among the Greeks and Romans , were , among the latter , introduced in part into the Colleges of Builders , instituted bNuma Pompilius in the year 715 before onr era . Numa Pompilins also

y instituted Colleges of Artisans ( Collegia Artificivin ) to the number of 131 , at the head of which were the Colleges of Architects or Constructors , otherwise Builders ( Collegia Fabroram ) . The latter were designated under the name of ( Fraternilates ) . These colleges were , at their organization , as well religions societies as fraternities of artisans , ancl their connection with the State and priesthood were by their laws determined with great precision . They had

their own worship and their own organization , based upon that of the Dyonisian p riests ancl architects , of whom many were to be found anterior to this period in Syria , in Egypt , in Persia , ancl in India ; ancl the degree of sublimit y to which they hacl carried their art is revealed to us by the ruins which yet exist of the monuments which they there erected . Beside the exclusive privilege of constructing the temples and public monuments , they had a judiciary of their

own , and were made free of all contributions to the city ancl state . The members of these colleges , usually , after the labours of the clay , convened in their respective lodges— -wooden houses , temporarily erected near the edifice in course of construction—where they determined the distribution and execution upon the work in progress , - the decisions being made by a majority of votes . Here , also , were initiated the new members into the secrets ancl particular mysteries of their art ; there were no books in those clays upon this noble

society , hence every candidate receievecl a verbal communication , which made the ceremony more impressive . These initiates were divided into three classes —apprentices , companions or fellow-workmen , and masters ; and they engaged themselves by oath to afford each other succour and assistance . The presidents of the college were elected for five years , were named masters or teachers ( magistri ) . Their labours in their lodges were always preceded with reliious

g ceremonies , ancl as the membership were composed of men of all countries , and , consequently , of varied beliefs , the Supreme Being necessaril y hacl to be represented in a lodge under a title , and therefore was st yled , " The Grand Architect of the Universe "—the universe being considered the most sublime and perfect work of a master builder .

As far as we can discover , in the beginning the initiations into these corporations appear to have been confined to but two degrees , and the ritual of these degrees limited to , 1 st , some religious ceremonies : 2 nd , imparting to the initiate a knowledge and obligations imposed upon him ; 3 rd , to explain certain symbols , the signs of recognition , and the inviolability of the oath ; the workman or fellow-craft being , in addition , carefully instructed in the use of the level ancl the squarethe mallet and chisel . To become a Master the

, elected hacl to submit to proof ' s such as were exacted at the initiation of the priest architects of Egypt , and in which he underwent a most searchinoexamination of his knowledge of art ancl moral principles . B y the protection that these Colleges of Builders accorded to the institutions and worships of other countries , there were developed among them doctrines and rules of